Pipe section having a temperature sensing pipe liner for measuring temperature, and a method for measuring pump efficiency

Abstract

A system for measuring pump efficiency includes a pump configured to pump a fluid, a suction pipe disposed upstream of a suction side of the pump, a discharge pipe disposed downstream of a discharge side of the pump, a first pipe section disposed between the suction pipe and the suction side of the pump, and a second pipe section disposed between the discharge pipe and the discharge side of the pump. Each of the first pipe section and the second pipe section includes a temperature sensing pipe liner configured to measure a temperature of the fluid in the first pipe section, and a thermal insulator disposed radially outward of the temperature sensing pipe liner.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for measuring pump efficiency, comprising:
 a pump configured to pump a fluid; 
 a suction pipe disposed upstream of a suction side of the pump; 
 a discharge pipe disposed downstream of a discharge side of the pump; 
 a first pipe section disposed between the suction pipe and the suction side of the pump; and 
 a second pipe section disposed between the discharge pipe and the discharge side of the pump, 
 wherein each of the first pipe section and the second pipe section includes
 a temperature sensing pipe liner configured to measure a temperature of the fluid in the first pipe section, and 
 a thermal insulator disposed radially outward of the temperature sensing pipe liner. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the temperature sensing pipe liners includes a temperature transducer, and wherein each of the first pipe section and the second pipe section includes a pressure transducer and a communication interface. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature transducer is disposed on the temperature sensing liner to provide a spatially-averaged measure of a temperature of the temperature sensing liner. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the temperature sensing pipe liners includes a plurality of temperature transducers. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing liner is configured as an annular inner lining of a thin material having high thermal conductivity in the range of 100-200 W/mK such that the temperature sensing liner assumes the temperature of the fluid passing over the temperature sensing liner. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulator is an annular layer of a chemically inert, structurally stable material that has low thermal conductivity in the range of 10-20 W/mK. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first pipe section and the second pipe section includes a flange portion disposed radially outward relative to the thermal insulator. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature transducer and the pressure transducer are housed in an enclosure that is removably coupled with the flange portion. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature transducer and the pressure transducer are surrounded by fluid-tight, electrically and thermally isolating potting fill. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure transducer includes a threaded portion configured to be received by a threaded opening in the temperature sensing liner. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the flange portion of the first pipe section is coupled with a flange of the suction pipe at the suction side of the pump, and the flange portion of the second pipe section is coupled with a flange of the discharge pipe at the discharge side of the pump. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure transducer includes a threaded portion configured to be received by a threaded opening in the temperature sensing liner. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing liner of the first pipe section has an inside diameter that matches an internal piping size of the suction pipe, and
 wherein the temperature sensing liner of the second pipe section has an inside diameter that matches an internal piping size of the discharge pipe. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure transducer is flush mounted relative to the temperature sensing liner so as not to restrict fluid flow or provide a potential contamination point. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing liner extends over only a portion of the inner surface of the first pipe section and/or the second pipe section in an axial flow direction. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein temperature sensing liner extends over only a portion of the inner surface of the first pipe section or the second pipe section in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
       17. A pipe section comprising:
 a temperature sensing pipe liner configured to measure a temperature of the fluid in the pipe section; and 
 a thermal insulator disposed radially outward of the temperature sensing pipe liner, 
 wherein the pipe section includes a temperature transducer, a pressure transducer, and a communication interface, and 
 wherein the temperature transducer is disposed on the temperature sensing liner to provide a spatially-averaged measure of a temperature of the temperature sensing liner. 
 
     
     
       18. The pipe section of  claim 17 , wherein the pipe section includes a plurality of temperature transducers. 
     
     
       19. A pipe section comprising:
 a temperature sensing pipe liner configured to measure a temperature of the fluid in the pipe section; and 
 a thermal insulator disposed radially outward of the temperature sensing pipe liner, 
 wherein the temperature sensing liner is configured as an annular inner lining of a thin material having high thermal conductivity in the range of 100-200 W/mK such that the temperature sensing liner assumes the temperature of the fluid passing over the temperature sensing liner, and 
 wherein the thermal insulator is an annular layer of a chemically inert, structurally stable material that has low thermal conductivity in the range of 10-20 W/mK. 
 
     
     
       20. A pipe section comprising:
 a temperature sensing pipe liner disposed at an inner surface of the pipe section, the temperature sensing pipe liner being configured to measure a temperature of a fluid passing through the pipe section; 
 a thermal insulator disposed radially outward of the temperature sensing pipe liner: 
 wherein the pipe section includes a temperature transducer, a pressure transducer, and a communication interface, and 
 wherein the temperature transducer is disposed on the temperature sensing liner to provide a spatially-averaged measure of a temperature of the temperature sensing liner. 
 
     
     
       21. The pipe section of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensing pipe liner is configured to assume the temperature of the fluid passing over it. 
     
     
       22. The pipe section of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensing pipe liner is configured to have a thermal conductivity in the range of 100-200 W/mK. 
     
     
       23. The pipe section of  claim 20 , further comprising a flange portion disposed radially outward of the thermal insulator. 
     
     
       24. The pipe section of  claim 20 , wherein the pipe section includes a plurality of temperature transducers. 
     
     
       25. The pipe section of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensing pipe liner is configured to extend over a portion of the inner surface in an axial flow direction through the pipe section. 
     
     
       26. The pipe section of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature sensing pipe liner is configured to extend over a portion of the inner surface in a circumferential of the pipe section. 
     
     
       27. The pipe section of  claim 20 , wherein pipe section is configured to be coupled between two pipes. 
     
     
       28. The pipe section of  claim 27 , wherein the temperature sensing pipe liner has an inside diameter that matches inside diameters of the two pipes to which the pipe section is coupled. 
     
     
       29. The pipe section of  claim 27 , wherein the temperature sensing pipe liner is configured so as to not restrict fluid flow through the two pipes and the pipe section.